Foldable handle

Abstract

A folding tiller handle is made in two pieces connected for limited relative longitudinal and pivotal movement, one piece being a permanent part of the basic tiller assembly. A belt tightening idler sheave is associated with a belt drive which provides the motive forde for rotating the tiller tine assembly. A control, which includes two separable rigid rod members, moves the idler sheave into and out of tightening engagement with the drive belt. The rods are joined through a connection which imparts rotary motion from one rod to the other and which also permits relative longitudinal movement therebetween to separate the rods. The rods are associated with respective pieces of the tiller handle so that when the handle is separated or folded, the control connection to the tightening sheave through the rods is interrupted and the drive belt cannot be tightened to establish the tiller drive.

We claim: 
     
       1. A foldable handle assembly comprising a fixed elongated handle portion having a first free end portion;   a movable elongated handle portion having a second free end portion; and   connecting means joining said fixed and movable handle portions and operative to selectively clamp said fixed and movable handle portions against relative pivotal movement in a normal position where the longitudinal axis of said fixed and movable handle portions are aligned and further operative to release said movable handle portion for limited longitudinal movement relative to said fixed handle portion sufficient to release said movable handle portion for pivotal movement relative to said fixed handle portion from the normal position to a folded position, said connecting means including a blade extension formed as part of one of said first and second free end portions,   an elongated slot in said one of said first and second free end portions and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the respective of said fixed and movable handle portions,   a strap on the other of said first and second free end portions and spaced outwardly therefrom for slidably receiving said blade extension thereunder when said movable handle portion is in the normal position,   a lock opening in said other of said first and second free end portions, said slot and said lock opening being aligned when said blade extension is positioned under said strap, and   fastening means extending through said lock opening and said slot and selectively operative to clamp said fixed and movable handle portions in the normal position against longitudinal movement and to free said movable handle portion for sufficient longitudinal movement relative to said fixed handle portion to withdraw said blade extension from said strap while maintaining a connection between said fixed and movable handle portions to afford pivotal movement of said movable handle portion relative to said fixed handle portion from the normal position to a folded position.     
     
     
       2. A foldable handle assembly according to claim 1 wherein said strap is formed as an integral part of said other of said first and second free end portions. 
     
     
       3. A foldable handle assembly according to claim 1 including means defining a plurality of circular areas spaced along said slot, and   means on said fastening means corresponding to the configuration of said circular areas and selectively receivable therein.   
     
     
       4. A foldable handle assembly according to claim 1 wherein said fastening means includes a wing bolt having a threaded portion extending through said lock opening, and   a part on said other of said first and second free end portions having a threaded opening aligned with said lock opening and threadably receiving said threaded portion of said wing bolt.   
     
     
       5. A foldable handle assembly according to claim 1 wherein said fixed handle portion includes first and second laterally spaced extensions, each having a free end portion,   said movable handle portion includes third and fourth laterally spaced extensions, each having a free end portion,   said free end portions of each of the ones of said first and second extensions or said third and fourth extensions include a said blade extension,   said free end portion of each of said ones of said first and second extensions and said third and fourth extensions includes a said slot,   said free end portion of each of the others of said first and second extensions and said third and fourth extensions includes a said strap, and   said free end portion of each of said others of said first and second extensions and said third and fourth extensions includes a said lock opening.   
     
     
       6. A foldable handle assembly according to claim 5 wherein said straps are formed as an integral part of respective ones of said others of said first and second extensions and said third and fourth extensions. 
     
     
       7. A foldable handle assembly according to claim 6 wherein said fastening means includes a pair of wing bolts, each having a threaded portion extending through respective of said lock openings, and   a part on each of said others of said first and second extensions and said third and fourth extensions, each having a threaded opening aligned with the respective of said lock openings and threadably receiving said threaded portion of the respective of said wing bolts.   
     
     
       8. A foldable handle assembly according to claim 7 wherein each of said free end portions of said third and fourth extensions includes a said blade extension and a said slot, and   each of said free end portions of said first and second extensions includes a said strap, a said lock opening, and a said threaded part.